I have seen firsthand the evolution of aquaculture-that evolution of it towards making a great impact into the global seafood industry. In 2025, the aquaculture industry, too, would demonstrate footprints of innovations and sustainable measures that would truly change its affairs in line with the ever-increasing demand for safer, high-quality seafood.
The shrimp industry forms the backbone of aquaculture in India.
The Shrimp industry is the backbone of the aquaculture industry in India.. Formulated Shrimp feed is very critical for the growth of this sector, as it directly impacts shrimp health, growth, and farm profitability. As cost of raw materials such as fishmeal, soybean, and wheat flour continue to fluctuate managing these costs while maintaining feed quality is a constant challenge for Shrimp feed formulators. The industry also faces pressure to adopt sustainable practices. The stringent quality and safety standards in both domestic and export markets demand rigorous compliance.
Having been in the Shrimp sector for more than three decades, Waterbase understands the customer needs better and meets them by implementing a code of good manufacturing practices. We believe that quality and food safety are the cornerstones to the businesses we operate in. We continuously work to improve our products performance through investment in R&D and rigorous testing. We are committed to the promotion & growth of sustainable aquaculture in India through responsible sourcing, eco-friendly practices, innovation, and farmers’ education.
The advancements in Shrimp feed technology have revolutionized shrimp farming over the past decade. In the upcoming years, the importance of high-quality, nutritionally balanced and environmentally sustainable feeds will be more evident than ever, the focus will be on functional feeds that go beyond meeting the energy requirements of shrimp, build disease resistance and boost growth. Incorporating novel ingredients, evaluating alternative protein sources (to reduce dependency on traditional fishmeal) will gain traction. These innovations aid in providing cost-effective solutions for farmers while also bringing sustainability. The Shrimp farming is disease-prone, where functional feeds enriched with novel ingredients, probiotics, prebiotics, and immune-boosting additives will help farming activities against diseases. The advanced research and feed formulations are now tailored to specific shrimp growth stages and environmental conditions. This precision nutrition boosts immunity, ensures optimal feed conversion ratios, reduces wastage and improves farm profitability.
Unfortunately, some shrimp farmers are not aware of the benefits of high-quality functional Shrimp feeds and the importance of sustainable farming practices. Waterbase conducts aqua meets every month, to educate the Shrimp farmers on these topics.
Looking ahead, the mission at The Waterbase Limited is to innovate, collaborate, and drive sustainability. Today, environments are welling where the new-age technologies will prioritize environmental stewardship, and to bring this change, we are focusing our strategy toward aquaculture farmers.
This proves aquaculture to be one of the resilient and innovative industries of the world. For shrimp feed manufacturers, the time now is to drive with clarity and vision for their direction. Such time can also be used as an impetus for developing quality, sustainable feed solutions to enhance aquaculture and add value to world food security and economic wealth. Bright-future conditions lie ahead of shrimp farming, and we are proud to be at it.
The author, Ramakanth Akula, is CEO, The Waterbase Limited